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Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

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QuizYourself

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Your Summary

Get the facts

Your options

Have surgery to treat a meniscus tear.

Don't have surgery. Use home treatment and physical therapy to
treat your knee.

Key points to remember

Your decision about surgery for a torn
meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and
how big it is. Your surgeon's experience and preference, as well as your age,
health, and activity level, can also affect your treatment
options.

There are two kinds of surgery for a
meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back
together. The other kind removes part or all of the
meniscus. In general, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it.

Some
types of tears can't be fixed. For example,
radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on
where they are. But most
horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative
tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. For these kinds of
tears, you may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed.

You may want to have surgery if your knee pain is too great or
if you are unable to do daily activities.

Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems,
such as
osteoarthritis. There are no long-term studies to
prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to
evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the knee is protected
from uneven force, there is a lower risk of future joint problems.

Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, you
may try rest, ice, compression, and propping up your leg on a pillow when you
sit or lie down.

A meniscus tear is a
common knee injury. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your
knee. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus)—one at the outer edge of
the knee and one at the inner edge. The menisci keep your knee steady by
balancing your weight across the knee. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee
from working right.

A meniscus tear is usually caused by twisting or turning, often with the foot planted
while the knee is bent. These tears can occur when you lift something heavy or
play sports. As you get older, your meniscus gets worn. This can make it tear
more easily.

If you are older, you may not know what you did to
cause the tear. Or you may only remember feeling pain after you got up from a
squatting position, for example. Pain and slight swelling are often the only
symptoms.

There are
three types of meniscus tears, each increasing in severity. The more serious
the tear, the more severe the symptoms.

With a minor tear, you may have slight pain and swelling. This
usually goes away in 2 or 3 weeks.

With a moderate tear, you may feel pain at the side or center of your
knee. Swelling slowly gets worse over 2 or 3 days. This may make your knee feel
stiff and limit how well you can bend your knee. Usually you are still able to
walk. You might feel a sharp pain when you twist your knee or squat. These
symptoms go away but can come back if you twist or overuse your knee.

In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus can
move into the joint space. This can make your knee catch, pop, or lock. You may
not be able to straighten it. Your knee may feel "wobbly" or buckle without
warning. It may swell and become stiff right after the injury or within 2 or 3
days.

There are two
basic types of treatment for a torn meniscus—nonsurgical treatment and
surgery.

With nonsurgical treatment, you use
rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and you have
physical therapy. You may wear a knee brace for a short time.

With
surgery, you can have one of the following:

Surgical repair
to sew the tear together.

Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the
meniscus.

Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to
remove the entire meniscus. This surgery is not usually done, because it
increases the risk of
osteoarthritis in the knee.

When possible, it's better to fix the meniscus than to
remove it. If the meniscus can be fixed, you have a lower risk of future joint
problems.footnote 1

Your doctor will likely
suggest the treatment that he or she thinks will work best for you based on
where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, your
health, and your activity level may also affect your treatment options. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when he or she can see how strong the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how big the tear is.

If you have a small tear at the outer edge of
the meniscus (in what doctors call the
red zone), you may want to try home treatment. These tears often heal with
rest.

If you have a moderate to large tear at the outer edge of the
meniscus (red zone), you may want to think about surgery. These kinds of tears
tend to heal well after surgery.

If you have a tear that spreads
from the red zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus (called the
white zone), your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not
work. You may need a partial meniscectomy instead.

If you have a tear in the white
zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not
heal. But partial meniscectomy may be done if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and
swelling.

Some kinds of tears can't be fixed.
Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on
where they are. Most of the time,
horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative
tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. The older you are,
the less likely it is that your tear can be repaired. For these kinds of tears,
you may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed.

When
possible, meniscus surgery is done using
arthroscopy instead of open surgery. During
arthroscopy, your doctor puts a lighted tube with a tiny camera—called an
arthroscope, or scope—and surgical tools through small incisions.

In a young person, surgery to fix the tear may be the first choice, because it
may restore use of the knee.

Surgery has risks, including
infection, a blood clot in the leg, damage to nerves or blood vessels, and the
risks of anesthesia. After surgery you may still have pain and joint
stiffness.

Surgery to repair tears in the
meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. This means that of 100
people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not.footnote 2

Surgery to remove part of the
meniscus (meniscectomy) is better at keeping your knee stable
than surgery to remove all of the meniscus. Partial removal also allows a
quicker and more complete recovery than total removal.

Removing the whole meniscus typically reduces some symptoms. But losing the meniscus reduces the cushioning and stability of the joint. Most people, especially if they are young or active, are not satisfied with a total meniscectomy. This is why surgeons try to remove as little of the meniscus as possible.

Studies of partial meniscectomy have shown that 78% to 88% of people have good results from partial meniscectomy. This means that 78 to 88 people out of 100 people who have this surgery have reduced symptoms and are able to return to most or all of their activities.footnote 2

Small tears found at the outer edge of the meniscus often heal with rest.
Instead of surgery, you may try
rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may wear a
knee brace. You can try
over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen
or naproxen to help with pain and to reduce swelling.

If your
symptoms go away, your doctor may suggest exercises to build up your
quadriceps and
hamstring muscles and increase your flexibility. It's important to follow
your doctor's guidelines so that you don't hurt yourself again.

You still have pain after trying other treatment, such as rest
and physical therapy.

Your knee "locks up" instead of working
normally.

You may be able to reduce the risk of future joint
problems (osteoarthritis).

You are an active person
and your tear is in the
red-to-white zone. Surgery can help return your knee to normal.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Have surgery for a torn
meniscus Have surgery for a torn
meniscus

You have surgery to
fix or remove the meniscus. In most cases, you will go home
on the same day as the surgery.

Either type of surgery is followed by rehabilitation that
includes rest, walking, and doing exercises until you have full range of motion
without pain.

After surgery to fix your meniscus, you must limit
movement for up to 2 weeks. It may take weeks or months before you can go back
to your
daily activities after surgery.

Surgery to repair tears in the
meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100
people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their
knee normally, while 15 do not.footnote 2

Surgery to repair tears may
reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.

Out of 100 people who
had surgery to remove part of the meniscus, 78 to 88 had relief from pain and knee
problems.footnote 2

You may still have
pain and joint stiffness after surgery.

Surgery has risks, such
as:

Infection.

Damage to nerves or blood vessels around the
knee.

Blood clots in the leg.

Damage to the
joint.

Risks from anesthesia.

Your age and your health can also affect your
risk.

Don't have surgery
Don't have surgery

You try
rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

You may wear a knee brace.

You try
over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen
or naproxen to help with pain and swelling.

You may do exercises to build up your
thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) and increase your flexibility.

You may be able to relieve
pain and return your knee to normal.

You avoid surgery that you may
not need if the tear heals on its own.

You avoid the risks of surgery.

You can still have
surgery later if your symptoms don't get better.

Your tear may
not heal on its own, so you may still need surgery.

You may still
have pain, or your pain may get worse.

You may not have full use of
your knee.

Personal stories about meniscus tear surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

I've had
quite a bit of pain on one side of my knee for a couple of weeks, but my
symptoms have decreased. My doctor thinks that my meniscus may be healing on
its own. I'm still seeing my doctor, though, and I've started rehabilitation
with a physical therapist. He's got me going through range-of-motion and knee
strengthening exercises at home. I don't think I'll need surgery.

Jose, age
41

A few months ago, I started having pain in
my right knee when I would move it certain ways. My doctor examined my knee and
asked me about my symptoms. He diagnosed a tear in my meniscus. A follow-up
MRI confirmed it. I've been doing rehabilitation, but it's been 2 months and
I've still got pain, particularly if I twist my knee at all. The orthopedic
surgeon thinks that I may have a flap or piece of the torn meniscus moving in
the knee, which is giving me a lot of problems with my knee locking. He's
recommending surgical repair, and I am going to go ahead with the surgery.

Will, age
63

I injured my knee about a month ago in a
tennis game. It didn't take my doctor long to diagnose a meniscus tear, and I'm
going to have an arthroscopic test to see just how much I've damaged the knee.
The surgeon says she can do repairs in the same procedure. My mother has severe
osteoarthritis, and I believe that my knee may develop early arthritis if I
don't get this tear taken care of. The arthroscopic surgery makes sense to me.

Alondra, age
32

I am a serious athlete and this isn't my
first injury. But this is the first time I've had to think about surgery. I've
had bad pain in my knee fairly constantly since I twisted it in the gym a few
weeks ago. It's particularly bad if I bend or flex my knee. The surgeon says
that the MRI shows a large tear in the inner part of my meniscus, and that's
the part that doesn't heal well. He's recommending a partial meniscectomy to
remove the damaged tissue. He says that he'll only have to remove a small part
of the meniscus and I'll still have stability in the knee, and no more pain!
I'm going to have the surgery next week.

Marlon, age 30

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to have surgery

Reasons not to have surgery

I want to do whatever I can to fix my knee.

I think my meniscus tear is minor. I want to wait and see if my knee gets better before I have surgery.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm in a lot of pain, and I want to have surgery so I can start feeling better.

My pain isn't too bad.

More important

Equally important

More important

I think surgery may help me avoid long-term joint problems.

I don't want to have surgery for any reason.

More important

Equally important

More important

I accept the risks of surgery.

I feel that surgery is too risky for me.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having surgery

NOT having surgery

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.1, My treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on more than just how I hurt my knee.

TrueYou're right. Your treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, health, and activity level can also affect your treatment options.

FalseSorry, that's not right. Your treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, health, and activity level can also affect your treatment options.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Your treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is.

2.2, Surgery may not be able to fix every tear.

TrueYou're right. Some kinds of tears can't be fixed. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. Most of the time, horizontal tears and tears caused by years of wear and tear can't be fixed.

FalseSorry, that's not right. Some kinds of tears can't be fixed. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. Most of the time, horizontal tears and tears caused by years of wear and tear can't be fixed.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Some kinds of tears can't be fixed. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. Most of the time, horizontal tears and tears caused by years of wear and tear can't be fixed.

3.3, Surgery may help me avoid long-term joint problems.

TrueYou're right. Surgery may be able to prevent long-term joint problems, such as osteoarthritis.

FalseSorry, that's not right. Surgery may be able to prevent long-term joint problems, such as osteoarthritis.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Surgery may be able to prevent long-term joint problems, such as osteoarthritis.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

Have surgery to treat a meniscus tear.

Don't have surgery. Use home treatment and physical therapy to
treat your knee.

Key points to remember

Your decision about surgery for a torn
meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and
how big it is. Your surgeon's experience and preference, as well as your age,
health, and activity level, can also affect your treatment
options.

There are two kinds of surgery for a
meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back
together. The other kind removes part or all of the
meniscus. In general, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it.

Some
types of tears can't be fixed. For example,
radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on
where they are. But most
horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative
tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. For these kinds of
tears, you may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed.

You may want to have surgery if your knee pain is too great or
if you are unable to do daily activities.

Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems,
such as
osteoarthritis. There are no long-term studies to
prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to
evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the knee is protected
from uneven force, there is a lower risk of future joint problems.

Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, you
may try rest, ice, compression, and propping up your leg on a pillow when you
sit or lie down.

FAQs

What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is a
common knee injury. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your
knee. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus) —one at the outer edge of
the knee and one at the inner edge. The menisci keep your knee steady by
balancing your weight across the knee. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee
from working right.

How is a meniscus injured or torn?

A meniscus tear is usually caused by twisting or turning, often with the foot planted
while the knee is bent. These tears can occur when you lift something heavy or
play sports. As you get older, your meniscus gets worn. This can make it tear
more easily.

If you are older, you may not know what you did to
cause the tear. Or you may only remember feeling pain after you got up from a
squatting position, for example. Pain and slight swelling are often the only
symptoms.

What are the types of meniscus tears?

There are
three types of meniscus tears, each increasing in severity. The more serious
the tear, the more severe the symptoms.

With a minor tear, you may have slight pain and swelling. This
usually goes away in 2 or 3 weeks.

With a moderate tear, you may feel pain at the side or center of your
knee. Swelling slowly gets worse over 2 or 3 days. This may make your knee feel
stiff and limit how well you can bend your knee. Usually you are still able to
walk. You might feel a sharp pain when you twist your knee or squat. These
symptoms go away but can come back if you twist or overuse your knee.

In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus can
move into the joint space. This can make your knee catch, pop, or lock. You may
not be able to straighten it. Your knee may feel "wobbly" or buckle without
warning. It may swell and become stiff right after the injury or within 2 or 3
days.

How is a torn meniscus treated?

There are two
basic types of treatment for a torn meniscus—nonsurgical treatment and
surgery.

With nonsurgical treatment, you use
rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and you have
physical therapy. You may wear a knee brace for a short time.

With
surgery, you can have one of the following:

Surgical repair
to sew the tear together.

Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the
meniscus.

Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to
remove the entire meniscus. This surgery is not usually done, because it
increases the risk of
osteoarthritis in the knee.

When possible, it's better to fix the meniscus than to
remove it. If the meniscus can be fixed, you have a lower risk of future joint
problems.1

Your doctor will likely
suggest the treatment that he or she thinks will work best for you based on
where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, your
health, and your activity level may also affect your treatment options. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when he or she can see how strong the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how big the tear is.

If you have a small tear at the outer edge of
the meniscus (in what doctors call the
red zone ), you may want to try home treatment. These tears often heal with
rest.

If you have a moderate to large tear at the outer edge of the
meniscus (red zone), you may want to think about surgery. These kinds of tears
tend to heal well after surgery.

If you have a tear that spreads
from the red zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus (called the
white zone ), your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not
work. You may need a partial meniscectomy instead.

If you have a tear in the white
zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not
heal. But partial meniscectomy may be done if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and
swelling.

Some kinds of tears can't be fixed.
Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on
where they are. Most of the time,
horizontal , long-standing, and degenerative
tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. The older you are,
the less likely it is that your tear can be repaired. For these kinds of tears,
you may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed.

When
possible, meniscus surgery is done using
arthroscopy instead of open surgery. During
arthroscopy, your doctor puts a lighted tube with a tiny camera—called an
arthroscope, or scope—and surgical tools through small incisions.

In a young person, surgery to fix the tear may be the first choice, because it
may restore use of the knee.

Surgery has risks, including
infection, a blood clot in the leg, damage to nerves or blood vessels, and the
risks of anesthesia. After surgery you may still have pain and joint
stiffness.

How well does surgery work?

Surgery to repair tears in the
meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. This means that of 100
people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not.2

Surgery to remove part of the
meniscus (meniscectomy) is better at keeping your knee stable
than surgery to remove all of the meniscus. Partial removal also allows a
quicker and more complete recovery than total removal.

Removing the whole meniscus typically reduces some symptoms. But losing the meniscus reduces the cushioning and stability of the joint. Most people, especially if they are young or active, are not satisfied with a total meniscectomy. This is why surgeons try to remove as little of the meniscus as possible.

Studies of partial meniscectomy have shown that 78% to 88% of people have good results from partial meniscectomy. This means that 78 to 88 people out of 100 people who have this surgery have reduced symptoms and are able to return to most or all of their activities.2

What can you do instead of surgery for a torn meniscus?

Small tears found at the outer edge of the meniscus often heal with rest.
Instead of surgery, you may try
rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may wear a
knee brace. You can try
over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen
or naproxen to help with pain and to reduce swelling.

If your
symptoms go away, your doctor may suggest exercises to build up your
quadriceps and
hamstring muscles and increase your flexibility. It's important to follow
your doctor's guidelines so that you don't hurt yourself again.

Why might your doctor recommend surgery?

Your
doctor may recommend surgery because:

You still have pain after trying other treatment, such as rest
and physical therapy.

Your knee "locks up" instead of working
normally.

You may be able to reduce the risk of future joint
problems (osteoarthritis).

You are an active person
and your tear is in the
red-to-white zone . Surgery can help return your knee to normal.

2. Compare your options

Have surgery for a torn
meniscus

Don't have surgery

What is usually involved?

You have surgery to
fix or remove the meniscus. In most cases, you will go home
on the same day as the surgery.

Either type of surgery is followed by rehabilitation that
includes rest, walking, and doing exercises until you have full range of motion
without pain.

After surgery to fix your meniscus, you must limit
movement for up to 2 weeks. It may take weeks or months before you can go back
to your
daily activities after surgery.

You try
rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

You may wear a knee brace.

You try
over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen
or naproxen to help with pain and swelling.

You may do exercises to build up your
thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) and increase your flexibility.

What are the benefits?

Surgery to repair tears in the
meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100
people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their
knee normally, while 15 do not.2

Surgery to repair tears may
reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.

Out of 100 people who
had surgery to remove part of the meniscus, 78 to 88 had relief from pain and knee
problems.2

You may be able to relieve
pain and return your knee to normal.

You avoid surgery that you may
not need if the tear heals on its own.

You avoid the risks of surgery.

You can still have
surgery later if your symptoms don't get better.

What are the risks and side effects?

You may still have
pain and joint stiffness after surgery.

Surgery has risks, such
as:

Infection.

Damage to nerves or blood vessels around the
knee.

Blood clots in the leg.

Damage to the
joint.

Risks from anesthesia.

Your age and your health can also affect your
risk.

Your tear may
not heal on its own, so you may still need surgery.

You may still
have pain, or your pain may get worse.

You may not have full use of
your knee.

Personal stories

Personal stories about meniscus tear surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"I've had quite a bit of pain on one side of my knee for a couple of weeks, but my symptoms have decreased. My doctor thinks that my meniscus may be healing on its own. I'm still seeing my doctor, though, and I've started rehabilitation with a physical therapist. He's got me going through range-of-motion and knee strengthening exercises at home. I don't think I'll need surgery."

— Jose, age
41

"A few months ago, I started having pain in my right knee when I would move it certain ways. My doctor examined my knee and asked me about my symptoms. He diagnosed a tear in my meniscus. A follow-up MRI confirmed it. I've been doing rehabilitation, but it's been 2 months and I've still got pain, particularly if I twist my knee at all. The orthopedic surgeon thinks that I may have a flap or piece of the torn meniscus moving in the knee, which is giving me a lot of problems with my knee locking. He's recommending surgical repair, and I am going to go ahead with the surgery."

— Will, age
63

"I injured my knee about a month ago in a tennis game. It didn't take my doctor long to diagnose a meniscus tear, and I'm going to have an arthroscopic test to see just how much I've damaged the knee. The surgeon says she can do repairs in the same procedure. My mother has severe osteoarthritis, and I believe that my knee may develop early arthritis if I don't get this tear taken care of. The arthroscopic surgery makes sense to me."

— Alondra, age
32

"I am a serious athlete and this isn't my first injury. But this is the first time I've had to think about surgery. I've had bad pain in my knee fairly constantly since I twisted it in the gym a few weeks ago. It's particularly bad if I bend or flex my knee. The surgeon says that the MRI shows a large tear in the inner part of my meniscus, and that's the part that doesn't heal well. He's recommending a partial meniscectomy to remove the damaged tissue. He says that he'll only have to remove a small part of the meniscus and I'll still have stability in the knee, and no more pain! I'm going to have the surgery next week."

— Marlon, age 30

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to have surgery

Reasons not to have surgery

I want to do whatever I can to fix my knee.

I think my meniscus tear is minor. I want to wait and see if my knee gets better before I have surgery.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm in a lot of pain, and I want to have surgery so I can start feeling better.

My pain isn't too bad.

More important

Equally important

More important

I think surgery may help me avoid long-term joint problems.

I don't want to have surgery for any reason.

More important

Equally important

More important

I accept the risks of surgery.

I feel that surgery is too risky for me.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having surgery

NOT having surgery

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.
My treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on more than just how I hurt my knee.

True

False

I'm not sure

You're right. Your treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, health, and activity level can also affect your treatment options.

2.
Surgery may not be able to fix every tear.

True

False

I'm not sure

You're right. Some kinds of tears can't be fixed. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. Most of the time, horizontal tears and tears caused by years of wear and tear can't be fixed.

3.
Surgery may help me avoid long-term joint problems.

True

False

I'm not sure

You're right. Surgery may be able to prevent long-term joint problems, such as osteoarthritis.

Decide what's next

1.
Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

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